Category Archives: Belarus

The WWP’s photographer, Charles ‘Chad’ Meacham has been in Minsk, Belarus photographing the gay rights activists during Minsk’s 2011 Equality Festival. Images include pictures of the banned Pride march, which took place on May 17, 2011. See more photos on Chad’s website – www.CharlesMeacham.com

In Belarus LGBT Prides are illegal, and are planned out in secret by a small group of activists.

The activists face being arrested for protesting for very basic Human Rights.

The average age of activists here is 20. Almost all of them have spent time in jail.

Many have also been kicked out of their universities for their actions.

A total of 12 people were arrested, including 2 Russians who are organizers for St Petersburg Pride. There were also 18 skinheads arrested.

Ukgaynews.org.uk is publishing a continuing story of the events going on in Belarus. – (Blogging from Belarus)

Here’s an excerpt:

15:08 Minsk had its gay pride march. For just 10 minutes, 40 Belarusians and Russians waived a 12 meters long rainbow flag for a short march of approximately 200 meters. They were at first met by a large group of journalists, photographers and TV crew. But when they reached the first crossing point, they were trapped by several vans of anti-riot police. Suddenly, the doors of the vans opened and anti-riot officers ran towards the participants. “I never saw anything of the kind” said Nikolai Alekseev by mobile phone. “They were brutal and violent” he added. Another participant who did not want to be named said: “It was like a group of wild dogs”. The march ended with most of the participants being arrested and violently beaten. A few managed to escape but the police ran after them.

Between 30 to 40 protesters blocked the entrance of the Crowne Plaza Hotel last night in Minsk in an attempt to stop the viewing of the documentary movie “Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride,” and the official start of Slavic Pride 2010. Police showed up on the scene and the group disbanded about an hour later. During the viewing a bomb threat was called into the hotel, and the participants were moved to another floor.

It was with a bit of sad irony that Sergey Yenin would choose Independence Square to meet me. The 20 year old LGBT activist who now lives in Warsaw has returned once again to Minsk with the task to help organize and lead this year’s Slavic Pride. His goal isn’t an easy one. Officially banned by the Belarusian government, Slavic Pride is illegal, making those that plan to break the government’s ban criminals. But being arrested isn’t the worse scenario the LGBT community can think of. Belarus is still rife with homophobia and several death threats have been received in recent days. Having attended the Prides in Moscow, Sergey knows how bad things can get.

We duck down into the crowded Minsk subway and pop up by a small housing community made up of grey rectangular concrete apartment buildings. Sergey apologizes in advance for the state of Gay Belarus’ office, but money is scarce and a room in one of the other organizer’s flat is all that is in the budget. I am immediately offered a cup of tea and we begin to chat about our lives. It’s hard for me, someone twice his age, to comprehend the drive of this young man – what he has already done, and what he plans to do. The phone rings, and Sergey receives word that the printer of the first edition of the organization’s magazine has refused to finish the order due to a political sketch of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. I suggest to Sergey to leave the space blank, but with an explanation of the empty space. The printer agrees to do the job, and the deadline will be met.

Sergey at Gay Belarus Office

We go back down into the metro to meet a couple of Australians here doing a film documentary on the Pride. The four of us then catch a cab and head to an apartment where Russian LGBT activist Nikolai Alekseev is staying. Having organized Moscow’s Prides, which face similar circumstances Nikolai has in his own words “A lot of experience in such matters.” The atmosphere in the apartment is relaxed but an air of uncertainty looms. Nikolai gives the Australian film crew an interview, and the room falls silent. His words are honest and inspirational.

Nikolai being interviewed

The location of the Pride is being kept a secret until an hour before the meet, and the group’s main focus is now on having not only the most effective display, but the safety of everyone involved. When asked what he would like to achieve from Saturday’s Pride he simply answers “A peaceful demonstration and the right for discussion.” With Saturday only two days away everyone seems to be holding their breath and waiting.

The next event the WWP project is documenting will be Slavic Pride 2010, held in Minsk, Belarus. The date was picked to correspond with the International Day Against Homophobia.

Unfortunately, the opposition has succeeded in getting the parade ban, based on a strange technicality. In the letter the Slavic pride organizers received from city authorities, the decision to ban the parade was based on public events not being allowed to take place within 200 meters of underground pedestrian walkways and metro stops. This is despite other marches having already taken place along this same route. While the organizers are still appealing the decision, they also said that some type of protest will take place if the original pride march can not.

The Walk with Pride Project

This is a gay issue.
This is a straight issue.
This is a human rights issue.

Walk With Pride (WWP) is a project to photograph and document gay pride parades around the globe. Our aim is to promote pride, empathy, and understanding on an international level, while highlighting the similarities and differences in gay rights and gay culture around the world.